Police seek suspect in city motel death

The St. Augustine Police Department is asking the public for help in finding the killer of a man found murdered last week in a city motel.

Dan E. Lowe, 68, of St. Augustine, was found dead Thursday in his motel room at the Lantern Lodge, 3654 North Ponce de Leon Blvd., said Sgt. Barry Fox, St. Augustine Police Department spokesman.

Fox said Tuesday that Lowe's wounds showed he was killed by a sharp object, such as a knife. The official cause of death has not yet been released, and Fox could not further discuss Lowe's wounds due to the pending investigation.

Lowe had lived in the motel for 13 months. And before that, he bounced around to other motels in St. Augustine for years, Fox said.

Lowe was known as a friendly man who often visited with Lantern Lodge residents. The manager noticed when he was missing for a day and went to his room to check on him. Lowe was found dead at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Fox said he was likely killed at about 2 a.m. that morning.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Scene Technicians and Homicide Investigative Unit are assisting the St. Augustine police in the investigation.

If anyone has information on the incident, contact the St. Augustine Police Department at 825-1070.